United Rugby Club takes National Invitational Championship
United takes national tournament
On May 18th, 2013 in Elkhart, Indiana, Utah’s United Rugby Club was awarded its second national championship. United Rugby came into the National Invitational Tournament club competition seeded 6th after a lackluster showing in a regular season which was riddled with injury and losing several starters in the process. However, with a few injured players returning just in time for the tournament, the entire United team played with purpose in an impressive showing which RugbyMag characterized as “amazing”.
The weekend began with 56-7 blowout against the Kansas City Junior blues, followed by a 33-12 win over Colorado Springs which proved to be a tougher test for the United forwards. Colorado Springs possesses a number of large, hard-hitting, forwards which caused a few bruises but never stopped the relentless go-forward play from United’s pack. With the return of All-American center Zach Weber alongside fellow All-American Calvin Whiting the backs of Colorado Springs were significantly tested. The opposing defensive back line was repeatedly sliced up by Weber or run over by Whiting.
The Championship game was a story of several seniors who, inspired by their predecessors 2010 title, would not be denied. With, perhaps, one of the smallest packs in the tournament the entire United team would need to commit and show up to dethrone Cathedral. And show up they did. Cathedral scored first after several brutal phases within the United 22. This strong defense proved to be a key for the remainder of the game as any scoring opportunity for Cathedral required unusual and taxing time and effort which was largely unrewarded.The United attack did not disappoint with tries coming from both low and high numbered jerseys resulting in a final score of 24-10 and a second national Championship under Coach Colin Puriri.
After a few disappointing regular season losses, Coach Puriri challenged the boys to rededicate themselves before the National Tournament. No doubt, that same dedication will be required for next year’s season in, what may be, the single most competitive Union in American highschool Rugby. With Herriman ranked 2nd in single-school division and Snow Canyon 5th in that division no less than a team’s very best will win on any given Saturday.